Trader Joe’s is my favorite grocery store and I love it for toddler-friendly meals and snacks for our family. Their items are well-priced, healthy (a lot of times organic), and delicious! Below you will find five ideas for breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks, as well as photos of all of the items and a full shopping list at the very bottom. I like to plan for only five days each week, to account for times that we go out to eat or days that we have leftovers.
In our family, we all eat the same thing and at the same time. I do not make my kid her own meals, and never have. This started way back in the baby-led weaning days (see post here). I want Rosie to learn that meals are family time and that we eat together. I also want to make sure that she isn’t picky, that is my literal pet peeve! With that being said, I try to make toddler-friendly meals that my husband and I will enjoy, but that our toddler will like too.
Breakfast Ideas
We are not big breakfast eaters in this family (Rosie included), so I try really hard to get Rosie to eat anything at all. She loves waffles and toast, so we have that a lot of days. I don’t push a lot of fruit or vegetables at breakfast, and really focus on getting something (anything!) in her in the morning. She does love to have a full cup of milk in the morning too which I think adds to the lack of appetite.
Yogurt Cup and a Frozen Waffle
Oatmeal with Blueberries
Eggs with Cinnamon Toast
Peanut Butter on Cinnamon Toast
Bagel with Cream Cheese
Lunch Ideas
For lunch, we typically eat either leftovers or something simple, and then we always have fruit or vegetables on the side (or sometimes both!) Lunch is typically Rosie’s largest meal. She’s pretty hungry at this point (especially if she refuses a breakfast) and she loves to take a really long lunch while she avoids her nap! Because she eats lunch so well, I can typically get her to eat a lot of healthy vegetables at this time.
Lunch Meat and a Cheese Stick + a Fruit or Vegetable
Macaroni and Cheese + a Fruit or Vegetable
Cheese Quesadilla + a Fruit or Vegetable
Turkey Corn Dogs + a Fruit or Vegetable
Bean and Cheese Burrito + a Fruit or Vegetable
Dinner Ideas
For dinner, it’s extremely important to our family that we all sit down and eat together. I try to cook the majority of our dinners and keep them pretty healthy and balanced. If the main dish doesn’t have a lot of vegetables built into it, I will add a side salad or a vegetable. Rosie does not always like everything, but it’s important that she be exposed to everything! It may take 100 exposures before she likes something. As parents its not our job to force them to eat anything, but it is our job to make sure we offer it!
Taco Bowls
Asian Bowls
Frozen Mini Pizzas and Caesar salad
Gnocchi with Meatballs
Cheese Tortellini with Vodka Sauce
Snack Ideas
The main goal with snack is protein and fat! If your toddler only eats an apple for snack, they will be hungry again in an hour. Does that sound familiar? I try to incorporate fat and protein into all of Rosie’s snacks (if I can!) Easy ways to add fat and protein are peanut butter, cream cheese, or yogurt. I highly recommend giving them a “dip” to go with their fruit or carbs. They will think this is fun and it will keep them full!
Apples and Peanut Butter
Pretzel Sticks and Peanut Butter
Cucumbers and Cream Cheese
Peanut Butter on Crackers
On-The-Go Options: Almond Filled Pretzels or Peanut Butter Sandwiches
Shopping List for Toddler-Friendly Meals
- yogurt cups
- frozen multi grain waffles
- organic oatmeal cups
- eggs
- cinnamon roll bread
- organic peanut butter
- plain bagels
- plain cream cheese
- lunch meat
- cheddar cheese sticks
- organic macaroni and cheese box
- flour tortillas
- shredded cheese
- frozen turkey corn dogs
- bean and cheese burrito
- frozen brown rice
- can of black beans
- grilled chicken strips
- frozen fire roasted veggies
- frozen chicken gyoza
- island soyaki sauce
- frozen stir fry vegetables
- frozen bambino pizzas
- gnocchi
- frozen turkey meatballs
- tomatoes
- tomato sauce
- cheese tortellini
- vodka sauce
- bag of caesar salad
- honey wheat pretzel sticks
- golden round crackers
- almond butter filled pretzels
- mini peanut butter sandwich cookies
- Fruit of choice: blueberries, apples, clementines
- Vegetables of choice: tomatoes, baby carrots, mini cucumbers